Sacramento Kings: 4 players with the most to prove in training camp

Four Sacramento Kings players with the most to prove in training camp

With NBA training camp and preseason well and truly underway, there are a few players who have the most to prove this offseason for the Sacramento Kings. With the arrival of the rookies and the recent free-agent acquisitions, the Kings’ roster is sure to be shaken.

Many players will be auditioning for the same position, so who has the most to prove in training camp?

Hassan Whiteside, center 

Hassan Whiteside’s acquisition was unexpected, to say the least. After a poor first stint, Whiteside returns to the Kings on a one-year minimum deal. This is a huge change from the luxurious $98 million dollar contract he bagged in Miami and potentially his last if he doesn’t show out on the court.

With Richaun Holmes coming off a career year, there is little to no chance Whiteside takes his position. It will be interesting to see how this affects his game as It’s hard to imagine he chose Sacramento over other teams, only to play minimal bench minutes.

Whiteside must come into training camp with the mindset that he has to earn absolutely everything he gets. Sacramento owes him nothing and with a minimum contract, he doesn’t really owe the Kings much in return… Perhaps he’s just here for a relaxed season?

It’s easy to see how this could turn into Dedmon 2.0. If he wants to revitalize his career and show other teams that he’s still one of the more dominant centers in the league, then he will need to show this in camp.

On his decision to return to Sacramento, Whiteside had this to say:

"“I wanted to go somewhere where I could be a big difference-maker and do something special instead of just riding on coattails and trying to jump along with other people.”"

Yes, his defense can be game-changing but has struggled to stay on the court in the big moments. His desire to win back Kings fans is evident and who knows, maybe he’ll help win some games too.